Saxony 1754-EDC thaler Dav-1617
The first specimen was lot 25493 in Heritage sale 3015 (Long Beach, September 2011), where it sold for $1,380. The catalog description[1] noted, "August III Talar 1754-EDC, XF Details, numerous small marks on the obverse, very scarce type listed in the SCWC under Saxony." The second specimen was lot 3798 in Künker Auction 426 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €2,600 (about US$3,682 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"SACHSEN, KURFÜRSTENTUM Friedrich August II., 1733-1763. Banco-Taler 1754, Leipzig, für Polen. Sehr schön. (Germany, electorate of Saxony, Frederick Augustus II, 1733-63, thaler of 1754, struck in Leipzig for Poland. Very fine.)"
After the immense mintages of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when Saxony was the leading producer of silver thalers in Europe, production dwindled to a few scarce commemorative issues in the eighteenth century. Elector Frederick August II was also king of Poland and collectors of that country also claim this issue, which is rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 29.12 g, silver, 43 mm diameter, the second specimen 28,99 g.
Catalog reference: KM 929.1, Dav-1617, Gum-2181; Schnee 1037; Kahnt 675; Kopicki 2134 (R1).
- Davenport, John S., German Talers, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1965.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Gernot Schnee, Sächsiche Taler, 1500-1800, Frankfurt Am Main, P. N. Schulten, 1982.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3015, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2011.
- [2]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, eLive Premium Auction 426: European and German Coins and Medals from the 16th to the 20th century, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.
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